Conventions of Teaser Trailers

To help me make my trailer I have to look at a number of teaser trailers in order to write a list of conventions of which I will try to use in my trailers. I looked at many trailers but these were the most significant in creating my list: 'The Dark Knight Rises', 'Hangover 2', 'Transformers 3' and 'Cowboys and Aliens'.

• Production/Distribution Company Logos - for example Warner Brothers or Universal. This usually comes at the beginning.

• Images from the film

• Title of the film

• Release dates (for a teaser this is likely to be 'Coming Soon' or something vague like this, rather than a specific date.

• Indication of genre - the intended audience should be clear (this is done through the music, voiceover and mis-en-scene)

• Website (usually always at the end)

• Voiceover man

• Editing - transitions often include flashes, quick fades and dissolves alongside more conventional cuts

• Possibly cast, crew, director credits

• Possibly reference to other films (that this is similar to) or other films that have been directed/produced by the same people.

• Stars / names of the stars

• Reference to awards that cast/crew/film may have won or been nominated for (these may refer to other films).

• Music - make sure that it reflects the genre but also that it works with images

• Tagline

• Quotes that reference other films - for example 'From the Director of...'

• Sound effects

• Eye candy

• Reference to the source material the film is based on

• Try to use a variety of camera shots / movement

• Reference to prequel